Neko Macho

[roadwarrior]

Building my BF shopping list. Do you have any comments on this bait?

 

https://discounttackle.com/products/daiwa-yamamoto-neko-macho-4-5-inch-soft-stickbait

[MAN]

It will work.....buy it. 

[J Francho]

I'll never get over Neko Macho.

[Hook2Jaw]

All I know is if you switch some letting, you end up with Meko Nacho.  I love nachos.

[WRB]

I have a few packages of the Neko Macho and surprised how big they are.

4 1/2” long doesn’t fully describe it.

It’s basically a Senko that is .50D that weighs 1/2 oz,

Nothing “Neko” about the Macho.

IMO it will catch bass because the swimming action is new on a slow fall.

Let you if I get out to try the Macho.

Tom

[NorthernBasser]

Haven't tried it, but I do have a few bags of the Neko Fat. Have mostly fished them on shaky heads with good success. 

[roadwarrior]

I'm going to buy a couple of colors and see how we do.  If it's really a combination

of the Ika & Senko it should be a winner.  We'll see.

 

[ww2farmer]

It's a strange bait. I have not found a way to use it effectively.

 

It's as big around as a fat ika, if not fatter and that thin part before the bulbous tail is really fragile. I had several "tails" fly right off trying to skip them weightless under floating marina docks and moored pontoon boats mid summer when I bought a pack to investigate and try. 

 

They require a big hook to have enough gap for good bite. 

 

Personally I don't have any use for it, and it will be filed away to the "I don't like it" heap of baits.....but then again I don't like the fat ika either , but I know you do, so YMMV

[PhishLI]

I found one of these yesterday sitting on the bank while walking in from a wade, then gave it the Mend-it treatment. I might try it on a heavier Megastrike stand up head. A Fat Ika 4" is shown on top and a Neko Fat below.

 

 

[Fishes in trees]

A tackle shop that I frequent has that bait in a few sizes.  I look at it as kinda a finesse pitching bait - similar to a Zoom Magnum finesse worm.   At some point in the future I'll probably buy some but they don't exude the " gotta buy it right now"!  vibe.

[WRB]

The fat ika is 7/16D the Macho 1/2” D or lager diameter, it’s also heavier and softer.

It has a good action but time will tell!

Tom

[FishTank]

Bought some a few weeks ago and blew through a whole pack on a trip to my local honey hole.   I tried other stuff that day and this bait was what was working.  I think I caught the most on a weightless t-rig with a 4/0 or 3/0 (can't remember).  Great bait though. 

[BrianMDTX]

So if you rig these up as a Neko rig, do you set the hook by reeling in the slack like you do with a wacky rig, or is it more of a sweep of the rod? 

 

I use 1/0 Gammy octopus circle hooks for my wacky rigs but I’m guessing this would be better served with a dropshot hook? 

[roadwarrior]

The Daiwa Yamamoto Neko Baits gives anglers unmatched performance. Combining Daiwa’s precision detailing with Yamamoto’s legendary soft plastic, the Neko Fat Worm features a thick body similar to that of a Yamamoto Senko and also comes equipped with a bulbous tail, which provides a unique, quivering action. A great choice fished weightless, it is also absolutely deadly on a Neko Rig with a nail weight in the head.

 

The Neko Rig is always a great option for finesse fishing. While most anglers use a weightless worm, the nail weight in the Neko Rig gives anglers the ability to use heavier gear and reach fish in deeper water, where weightless worms just aren’t practical to fish.

[txchaser]

On 11/16/2020 at 6:20 PM, roadwarrior said:

I'm going to buy a couple of colors and see how we do.  If it's really a combination

of the Ika & Senko it should be a winner.  We'll see.

 

 

Any results?

[roadwarrior]

No, I have not had the opportunity to fish the baits.

[Choporoz]

Looks a lot like a ZMan FattyZ.  For whatever reason, FattyZ has been ....I don't know...different.   On a couple occasions,  it was lights out....but most of the time it gets completely ignored. 

[zeth]

I started using it this past year. I like it. Rig it up on that Trokar flipping tube hook and have fun. 

[roadwarrior]

Weightless?

[BrianMDTX]

Old thread. Brought it back as it’s a bait you don’t hear much about. Yet…I love these things!

 

I realize it was likely designed to be fished as a Neko rig (it is a Neko Macho!) and I have caught bass with them rigged as such. But I think it really shines as a weightless TR with a 3/0 EWG. It’s heavy enough to cast easily on a baitcaster. It casts accurately. It’s very forward-heavy so it has a great hopping action and the bulbous tail has a lot of action. But it also seems to get a lot of strikes on the fall, or even as soon as it hits the water. 
 

If you have not tried them, try them! My only “complaint” is that you may only catch one or two bass before you have to cut off the tip a bit and re-rig due to the plastic ripping. But I’m not overly concerned about that. I like Fat IKA’s as well, but I have more success with the Neko Macho. 
 

Good colors (for me) have been Watermelon Copper Orange w/Red Flake, Houdini, General’s Melon and Green Pumpkin w/Black Flake. 

[ChrisD46]

On 11/16/2020 at 1:37 PM, roadwarrior said:

Building my BF shopping list. Do you have any comments on this bait?

 

https://discounttackle.com/products/daiwa-yamamoto-neko-macho-4-5-inch-soft-stickbait

*Z-Man Trick Shoz 3.5" (also comes in 4.5") would be more lively AND last longer : Z-Man Trick ShotZ 3 1/2 inch Dropshot Bait 6 pack | Discount Tackle

[FryDog62]

Of the thicker 5 inch types of Neko worms - I really prefer the Grandebass Airtail (both the Neko worm and Rattler). Their tails actually float with the air bubble inside, and I have found many times that to be a difference maker when fishing slow, or even dead-sticking on the bottom.  The heavy, saltier worms just lay flat and don't stay in that feeding/rooting around position like the Airtails do.  A stand up style worm, that quivers and undulates subtly gets bit!